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Craving pasta without a months-out reservation? Maryland’s Italian scene is buzzing with lively rooms, clinking glasses, and the glorious promise of walk-in seats if you time it right. You will likely wait a bit, but that line usually means handmade pasta, red-sauce comfort, and sizzling wood-fired pies worth the patience. Here are ten spots where you can swing by, join the queue, and leave smiling.
La Tavola (Baltimore)
Walk up on a weeknight and you will probably catch a waitlist, but the energy at La Tavola makes time fly. The dining room feels like an embrace, with soft lighting, clinking glasses, and aromas of garlic butter drifting from the kitchen. Start with grilled calamari and a glass of crisp white, then watch plates of tagliatelle al ragu parade by.
The handmade pastas here are silky and generously sauced, especially the lobster ravioli that people whisper about in line. If you prefer something heartier, veal saltimbocca arrives tender and glossy, with sage that perfumes the table. Service stays upbeat even during rushes, gently steering you toward nightly specials…